colorful-tulip-field.jpg
Welcome to Grace at Home. Christ is Risen! Peace be with you. Darkness gives way to light and hope. The procession of God's limitless love is alive and growing.

Thank you for worshipping with us online this morning. Click on the pictures below to access the inspiring educational video content. Scriptures and prayers are located beneath the links.
"What Do You Live For?"
(Video for reflection)
"How Great Is Our God"
(Opening song)
"Ascension"
Children and Family Worship Moment
"Completely Yes - Yes, Lord"
(song of reflection)

A Community of Faith
Learn more here


10am central live at Grace
(watch via Zoom)
Sermon by Rev. Yvonne Gilmore
Gifts of generosity and grace
You may give gifts, tithes, and offerings online below or mail in a check to Grace Community Christian Church.

Thank you for making space for Grace to be shared between, among, and beyond our walls. Your faithful tithes and offerings make a difference. We are grateful for your ministry.
---------------------------------------------------------
We are a part of something BIGGER...than time, than ourselves, than darkness. We are a part of God's movement for wholeness and limitless love.

When we hear the story of Saul, persecutor of the first Christians, we hear of a man on a mission. God, however, had a completely different story-line for this man. Saul had power, position, and people who were ready to help him “take care” of any Christians who crossed his path. We first met Saul in Acts 7, at the stoning of Stephen, and can only imagine him yearning to end the lives of other believers in just such a horrendous way.

Yet chapter 9 tells the story of a disciple named Ananias, who came to touch Saul, bringing sight back to his eyes and insight to his heart. Ananias gave what he had, in response to a vision from God. Total transformation was Saul’s response to Ananias’ presence.

As we come to our offering, I want to challenge each of us. What vision is God giving us? 
What can we give in response to that vision? Our financial support for this congregation is one response. As a congregation, we’re able to reach out to help transform lives, beginning right here in our own community. Friends, we are instruments to be used by God. Let us continue to find new ways to respond to God’s call on our lives as individuals and as a congregation as we receive our morning offering.


Offering prayer

Merciful God, even as you worked to transform Saul’s life, filling him with your Spirit and opening doors for him to share the Good News of Jesus, the Christ, so we give you thanks for the ways you work to transform our lives! Thank you for each one here today (both those here in person and those on-line). Thank you for all these gifts, now offered, that they may open doors to transformed lives here and around the world. Amen 

Click here to give online using Paypal or your credit card
Opening Prayer

God of abundant life, this morning we come to sing our praise, giving you our thanks for the ways you raise us up to full life. You clothe us with joy even in the face of challenge and fear.
So hear us as we worship. In this hour, bring us to a good and hope-filled place. Take the blindness from our eyes and our hearts. Then send us from worship to testify to your healing grace. Amen
Prayers of the People

God of power and might, let your love shine on us and through us to others. Give us the joy of knowing and serving you in all that we say, think and do. We rejoice in the wonder of your resurrection, O Christ, but then tend to sink back into our old ways of thinking, behaving, responding to people’s needs. We can dance with the angels and all humankind on Easter Sunday, but the days following the Day of Resurrection cause us to slip back into apathy or despair. Forgive us when we become distracted and forget your power and love for us. Help us not to slouch in our seats but to be people of astounding faith, who have seen the light of Resurrection, who know that you have conquered death.

We bring the names of those near and dear to us to you in prayer...

May they feel the rejuvenating power of your love in their lives. We ask these things in the name of our Risen Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Acts 9:1-6
1 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
5 He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
6 But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."
Announcements
Unified Choir Spring session
It's time to sing again.

The Unified Choir includes young adults and people with different abilities, regular-ed and special needs, that enjoy performing.

Join us April 8 to May 13 from 6 to 7pm.

Sign up here.
Week of Compassion is focused on providing immediate relief, while also strategizing with global and domestic partners for a long-term coordinated response. Because of the ongoing conflict, large numbers of refugees can be expected in the neighboring countries with huge numbers of internally displaced people inside Ukraine.

Contributions can be made online or by check, designated for International Emergency Response where 100% of your gift will go to people who are impacted by this crisis.  
​
The situation is evolving rapidly on a daily basis. Our ecumenical response, our mission to work with partners to alleviate suffering throughout the world, continues - as do our prayers for safety, freedom, and peace in Ukraine.

Some congregations are also discerning sponsoring refugees, working with Church World Service to support long term resettlement plans, and other recovery efforts that will be necessary in the coming months and years as a result of the invasion of Ukraine. More here.
Grace Community Christian Church
2770 Montgomery Road
Aurora, IL 60504
www.graceccc.org
630.898.7990